All college students know that textbooks can be extremely expensive. Fortunately, a textbook loan, offered through LBCC’s EOPS program, is currently available to eligible students outside the LAC’s M Building from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event, which ends on Thursday, helps underprivileged students get necessary books and supplies for free.
Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), aims to provide services for students with economic, educational, or social barriers.
“The students that apply for the EOPS program must be low income and academically disadvantaged,” EOPS Coordinator Deatrice Shernell said.
Shernell is looking forward to getting books and supplies into the hands of as many students as possible.
“Once a student is enrolled in EOPS the book loan is automatically entitled to them,” Shernell said.
Ezekiel Perry-Edwards is one LBCC student who has benefitted from the EOPS program.
“I was in foster care which wasn’t easy, so EOPS helped me a lot. They gave me my textbooks, my supplies, and everything else I needed,” Perry-Edwards said.
LBCC students can also apply to work as an assistant for the EOPS program through the LBCC Website.
Vik Nesh, an EOPS student assistant, is passionate about helping other students.
“To be an assistant you basically have to fill out the student assistant application on the LBCC website but I also gave them a call and then the hiring process was super easy from there,” Nesh said.
Nesh said it was easy to get the opportunity to work on campus.
The EOPS program has been around since 1969 as a result of civil rights activities and social unrest.
Since then, EOPS has grown across all California colleges and now helps with much more than just school supplies.
The EOPS office is located in the A building on the LAC campus and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m on Friday.